BiciRace.com :: News :: December 2005

News :: December 2005

22 December 2005

Ivan Basso Schedules Milano-Sanremo

Basso Thinks of San Remo, photo: Capture-The -Peloton.com

Yesterday Ivan Basso (28) confirmed to race organizers that he will start in the 2006 Milano-Sanremo. It will only be the second time for the Team CSC rider to take part in La Classicissima, the other time being in 2000 with Fassa Bortolo.

Basso, who finished second in the 2005 Tour de France, is aiming for a Giro-Tour double in 2006. Like this year, the rider from Varese will season debut with Milano-Torino (4 March). After Torino the tentative pre-Giro d'Italia schedule is as follows: Tirreno-Adriatico (8 - 14 March), Milano-Sanremo (18 March), Critérium International (25 - 26 March), Circuit de la Sarthe (4 - 7 April), La Flèche Wallonne (19 April), Liège-Bastogne-Liège (23 April) and finally the Giro d'Italia (6 - 28 May).

Read:
History of Giro-Tour Double Winners, 6 December
Corsa Rosa for Italian Stallion (Basso), 5 December
Basso is Atleta Europeo dell'Anno, 29 November
2006 Giro d'Italia Route Unfolded, 12 November
Ivan Basso Interview: King of Denmark on Tour and 2006, 21 October

Baldato to Tenax for 16th Season

Fabio Baldato (37) will race in 2006 for Tenax-Nobili Rubinetterie. The Italian from Brendola (Veneto) has been a professional since 1991, and has always raced with Italian teams. The Tenax squadra is based in Ireland but is predominantly Italian, managed by Fabio Bordonali.

This season was a dry one for the Fassa Bortolo rider, but in his career he has achieved 40 successes. Over the years Baldato has won two stages in the Tour de France, four in the Giro d'Italia, and four in the Paris-Nice. His second places finishes are just as impressive: Milano-Sanremo 2000, Paris-Roubaix 1994, Tour of Flanders in 1995 and 1996.

Baldato was hopping to continue as a lead-out man for Alessandro Petacchi on the new Milram squadra, but there was not proper offer and the classy Italian was left searching. He will be able to bestow his wisdom on the younger riders of Tenax and assist the squadra in receiving the '0K' to race in the larger events. BiciRace.com wishes Baldato the best of luck in his 16th season as a professional.

Past teams: Fassa Bortolo (2005), Alessio-Bianchi (2004), Alessio (2003), Fassa Bortolo (2000-2), Ballan-Alessio (1999), Riso Scotti (1998), MG-Technogym (1995-7), GB-MG (1992-4) and Del Tongo (1991).

Navigators Down Under

Tour Down Under Map

Organizers of the 8th Tour Down Under are pleased to welcome back the USA super-squadra, Navigators. The insurance boys will head to Australia's six-Day stage race (17 - 22 January) with strength with Irish road champion David O'Loughlin, Russian Vassili Davidenko, and il Americano, Phil Zajicek. The blue and black team will also field three Aussies: Hilton Clarke, Ben Brooks and Glen Chadwick.

Navigators for Tour Down Under:
Ben Brooks
David O'Loughlin
Glen Chadwick
Hilton Clarke
Phil Zajicek
Sergey Lagutin
Valeriy Kobzarenko
Vassili Davidenko
Team Manager: Ed Beamon

Read:
Tour Down Under Route Information
Luis León Sánchez back Down Under, 15 December
Luis León Sánchez Back in the Saddle, 28 April

UCI Releases List of Professional Circuit Teams

The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) has announced the list of teams to comprise the 2006 Professional circuit. The registrations have been made according to the recommendation of the famed accounting firm, Ernst&Young. The Professional teams are one tier below the ProTour teams in the UCI's ranking system.

2006 Professional teams:
Vorarlberg (AUT)
Landbouwkrediet-Colnago (BEL)
Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen (BEL)
Unibet.com (BEL)
Colombia-Selle Italia (COL)
3 Molinos Resort (ESP)
Kaiku (ESP)
Agritubel (FRA)
Barloworld (GBR)
Wiesenhof-Akud (GER)
Tenax (IRL)
Ceramiche Panaria-Navigare (IRL)
Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Ceramica Flaminia (ITA)
Miche (ITA)
Skil-Shimano (NED)
Intel-Action (POL)
Team LPR (SUI)
Health Net-Maxxis (USA)
Navigators (USA)

The following six teams, who have submitted their documents for registration, have been asked to clarify incomplete details. They have until 17 January 2006 to complete their documentation or their registration as a Professional team will be refused.

Pending 2006 Professional Teams:
Elk Haus-Simplon (AUT)
Andalucía-Paul Versan (ESP)
Comunidad Valenciana (ESP)
Relax-GAM (ESP)
Androni Giocattoli (ITA)
Naturino-Sapore di Mare (SUI)

21 December News ...